The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

Chapter 488

After several days of travel, they finally arrived in the capital. As soon as Dongfang Wan'er entered the city, disregarding the fatigue of the journey, she immediately plunged into the pharmacy. She carefully arranged the herbs she had brought back, and then devoted herself day and night to the work of developing the antidote.

Inside the pharmacy, the stove roared, filling the air with the aroma of herbs. Dongfang Wan'er was focused, her eyes fixed on the herbs and the stove in her hands, each step meticulous and precise, allowing no room for error. She carefully weighed each herb, relying on her profound understanding of pharmacology and her superb medical skills to meticulously prepare the formula. To find the perfect recipe, she experimented repeatedly, constantly adjusting the proportions of the herbs and the heat of the simmering process. Sometimes, to verify an idea, she would stand before the stove for hours, completely disregarding her exhaustion. The Duke of Zhenguo often stayed by her side, offering her tea and encouraging her when she felt tired. The two encouraged each other, eagerly awaiting the moment when the antidote would be successfully developed.

Finally, after countless efforts and attempts, the antidote was successfully developed. Holding the hard-won antidote, Dongfang Wan'er's eyes glistened with tears of excitement. Without pausing for a moment, she rushed to the patient's room. The patient lay on the bed, pale and weak, barely recognizable as a human being, tormented by illness. Dongfang Wan'er sat by the bedside and personally fed the patient the antidote, her eyes filled with concern and expectation.

Several hours passed, and suddenly the patient's soft cough echoed in the previously quiet ward. Dongfang Wan'er immediately stood up, watching the patient intently. She saw the patient's complexion gradually regain some color, their breathing become steady, and their tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed. After a while, the patient slowly opened their eyes; although still weak, there was a spark of life in them.

The Western Regions envoy, who had been closely monitoring the patient's condition, was stunned by what he saw. He had originally thought that this illness, which was extremely difficult to treat even in the Western Regions, was beyond the capabilities of anyone in the Central Plains, yet Dongfang Wan'er had resolved it with ease. His face was filled with admiration; he was deeply impressed by Dongfang Wan'er's medical skills and repeatedly gave her a thumbs up, saying in his somewhat broken Central Plains dialect, "The divine physician of the Central Plains truly lives up to her reputation!"

The news quickly reached the emperor's ears, and he was overjoyed. He immediately summoned Dongfang Wan'er and the Duke of Zhenguo to the court, his face beaming with delight: "You two have rendered a great service, not only resolving the court's crisis but also demonstrating our dynasty's strength to the envoys from the Western Regions. I will certainly reward you handsomely!" The emperor bestowed upon Dongfang Wan'er countless gold, silver, jewels, and precious medicinal herbs, and granted her a luxurious medical clinic to facilitate her practice of medicine and charity. The emperor also bestowed generous rewards upon the Duke of Zhenguo, elevating his rank and title in recognition of his bravery and loyalty.

After this incident, Dongfang Wan'er's fame spread throughout the land. Whether high-ranking officials or ordinary people, everyone praised her medical skills. She became a revered physician, and people flocked to her for treatment. The emperor, too, deeply understood the importance of employing talented individuals from this event. He began to recruit capable people widely, humbly listening to the opinions of his ministers. The court became enlightened, and everyone was united. With everyone's joint efforts, the country prospered, and the people lived in peace and contentment.

In this perilous adventure, Dongfang Wan'er and the Duke of Zhenguo fought side by side, supporting each other and deepening their bond. Together they endured life-or-death trials, facing countless difficulties and challenges, their trust and understanding reaching unprecedented heights. Now, standing at a new starting point, they join hands to protect their country and its people. A beautiful marriage seems to be quietly brewing, their story becoming a legend, inspiring generations and writing new chapters in history.